Uruguay

2006

New York, September 26, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed that the Uruguayan Supreme Court of Justice has reinstated the criminal defamation conviction of journalist Carlos Dogliani Staricco for stories describing a local mayor’s handling of a constituent’s property tax debt. The court appeared to disregard a growing number of legal opinions in the region that have found criminal defamation laws to be in violation of international law and unnecessary in a democracy. In addition, the court asserted that the factual basis of the coverage was not a relevant defense.